October 4th

More articles from the category

October 4th

Lufthansa stops flight connection Frankfurt-Beijing for economic reasons

Lufthansa has announced that it will cancel the daily flight connection between Frankfurt and Beijing until further notice due to economic difficulties. This decision will come into effect at the start of the 2024/2025 winter flight schedule. However, the connection from Munich to Beijing will remain. Passengers who have already booked tickets for the Frankfurt route will be automatically rebooked to the Munich connection. According to Lufthansa, the China routes are becoming increasingly unprofitable, especially in the context of the Ukraine war, which is causing longer flight routes and additional costs for European airlines. This situation has already prompted other European airlines to reduce their flights to China.

Continue reading "

EU reform of the Package Travel Directive causes criticism – improvements called for

The planned amendment to the EU package travel directive has been met with criticism from experts. At a webinar hosted by the German Travel Association (DRV), travel lawyer Ansgar Staudinger called for the EU Commission not to further tighten consumer protection, as package tours are already comprehensively insured. In particular, the withdrawn three-hour rule, which would have made travel agencies tour operators when booking several individual services within three hours, was a controversial issue. Stronger regulation of online platforms such as Booking.com also needs to be reconsidered. Staudinger pointed out that insuring individual services to the same extent as package tours does not make economic sense and could lead to higher prices. The reform process is expected to be completed by 2027.

Continue reading "

LATAM Airlines takes Wamos Air into wet lease

LATAM Airlines has entered into a partnership with Wamos Air to operate three key international routes from Santiago to Bogotá, Los Angeles and Lima starting in November 2024. This is due to the ongoing modernization of the cabins of LATAM's Boeing 787 Dreamliner and a global shortage of available aircraft. As part of the wet lease agreement, Wamos Air will use Airbus A330-200 aircraft to ensure flight operations. LATAM expects to operate a reduced fleet until early 2025. This cooperation between the two airlines is not new: Wamos Air already worked for LATAM in 2018 when the 787 fleet was grounded due to engine problems.

Continue reading "

Air Mauritius resumes nonstop flights between Mauritius and Geneva

From October 4, 2024, Air Mauritius will once again offer seasonal non-stop flights between Mauritius and Geneva. The route, which will operate until April 28, 2025, will be served twice a week on Mondays and Fridays with an Airbus A330-900neo. The resumption of this connection comes due to increasing demand, particularly from Switzerland, which is one of the most important European markets for Air Mauritius. In addition to Geneva, the airline also flies to London Gatwick and Paris Charles de Gaulle to strengthen its presence in Europe.

Continue reading "

Disruptions at German Air Traffic Control: Chaos in German Airspace

A technical fault at the German Air Traffic Control (DFS) led to significant problems across German airspace on Friday. The disruptions, which affected various airlines and passengers, were caused by the loss of flight plan data and weather data. Although the systems were put back into operation at around 10.25:70 a.m., the effects on air traffic remained noticeable. This raises questions about the stability of the air traffic infrastructure and the possible consequences for passengers and airlines. The disruption at the DFS, which is based in Langen near Frankfurt, meant that the data necessary for the safe operation of air traffic was not available. Flight plan data and weather information are essential for planning and carrying out flights. Air traffic control stated that the problems had now been resolved, but that the lost data would have to be updated. The aviation industry is particularly vulnerable to such disruptions, as even minor technical problems can have far-reaching consequences. The disruptions were described in detail on the website of the airport operator Fraport, which operates Germany's largest airport in Frankfurt. According to Fraport, there were "significant delays in operations and flight cancellations" due to the technical glitch. Around XNUMX flights were cancelled, causing inconvenience and potentially high costs for many travelers. Reactions from the airlines Lufthansa, as the largest German airline, confirmed that there were isolated flight cancellations and delays, but that long-haul flights were not affected. Lufthansa recommended that its passengers regularly check the flight status on its website to stay informed of any changes. This is a common practice in the

Continue reading "

Copenhagen Airport records record numbers in September 2024

Copenhagen Airport set a new record in September 2024 with 2,8 million passengers handled. This represents an increase of 11% compared to the previous year and even surpasses the figures for 2019. Despite a lower number of flights, demand is growing in both leisure and business travel. Connections to London in particular are among the most popular. The increase reflects the growing desire to travel in Denmark and Europe. In the first nine months of the year, almost 23 million passengers used the airport, raising the annual forecast to 29,8 million travelers. For the upcoming autumn holidays, the airport expects around one million travelers, mainly heading to destinations in southern Europe such as Greece, Spain and Cyprus.

Continue reading "
Airbus A320 (Photo: Angelika Evergreen).

9H-LOP: Lauda Europe returns first A320

The Maltese airline Lauda Europe took the first Airbus A2024 out of service at the end of September 320. It is the aircraft with the registration 9H-LOP. The owner of this medium-haul jet is the leasing company Castlelake. This A320 was initially in scheduled service with Qatar Airways between 2001 and 2019 as A7-ADA. In 2019, the ownership changed as part of the return and Castlelake initially leased it to the Austrian company Laudamotion. In 2020, the now 9H-LOP was passed on to the Maltese successor Castlelake. According to the lessor, there is no new lessee. The medium-haul jet has since been transferred to the United Kingdom, where it is to be recycled. For this purpose, the jet was sold to a company specializing in this. Components that can still be used are to be made available on the used market as spare parts and the rest will be recycled elsewhere, i.e. scrapped.

Continue reading "

Hard landing of a Sunclass Airbus on Skiathos – landing gear damage detected

On September 15, 2024, an Airbus A321 operated by Sunclass Airlines (OY-TCG) suffered a hard landing while landing on runway 19 at Skiathos Airport in Greece. The flight, which had taken off from Stockholm Arlanda under flight number DK1614, had to remain on site due to the incident. Data from Flightradar24 confirms that the aircraft is currently still grounded. According to reports from Aviation Herald, the aircraft's landing gear was damaged so badly during landing that it will need to be replaced. A ferry flight to Copenhagen, where the landing gear will be replaced, is in preparation. Videos of the landing were posted on YouTube, which has brought additional attention to the incident.

Continue reading "

Technical malfunction at Helsinki Airport affects baggage handling

On the morning of October 3, 2024, Helsinki Airport experienced a technical malfunction that affected the processing of checked baggage between 04:00 and 09:30. This caused delays and some flights had to depart without all checked baggage. Regular operations were able to resume around 10:00. Airport operator Finavia responded promptly by setting up a backup system to minimize the impact. The delayed baggage is currently being processed by the airlines and redelivered to the affected passengers. Finavia apologized to travelers and stressed that the situation is being handled in accordance with EU regulations. The baggage sorting system at Helsinki Airport can process up to 14.800 pieces of baggage per hour and covers an area of ​​28.000 square meters.

Continue reading "

Vienna Whisky Festival invites you to enjoy numerous whisky varieties in October 2024

On October 18 and 19, 2024, the MuseumsQuartier Vienna will open its doors for the Vienna Whisky Festival, one of Austria's most renowned whisky fairs. Visitors will have the opportunity to try hundreds of types of whisky from all over the world - from Scottish single malts and Irish whiskey to rarities from Japan and the USA. Austrian whisky producers are also represented and offer limited bottlings. In addition to tastings, the festival offers master classes in which experts provide insights into current trends and background knowledge. A highlight is the "Luxury Tasting" by Macallan, where rare and expensive bottles are tasted. The event is rounded off by relaxed lounge areas, culinary offerings and a competition from sponsor Lexus. Drinks are not included in the entrance fee and must be paid for separately by visitors.

Continue reading "